While the DMK and Makkal Needhi Maiam have welcomed the comments of Congress president Rahul Gandhi that he had forgiven the killers of his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the AIADMK is opposed to it.

DMK spokeperson TKS Elangovan said Rahul’s comments are a solace to all Tamils, and especially to those who want peace in the lives of Eelam Tamils. MNM president Kamal too has welcomed it.

But state fisheries minister D Jayakumar said Rahul has said this with an eye on polls. “Congress and DMK were responsible for the killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi had “completely forgiven” their father Rajiv Gandhi’s killers.

LTTE, a militant organisation from Sri Lanka, led by Velupillai Prabhakaran was found responsible for plotting and executing the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“We have forgiven our father’s killers. Whatever the reason, I do not condone any kind of violence,” said Rahul during an interaction with alumni of the Indian Institutes of Management in Singapore.

“We were very upset and hurt and for many years we were quite angry. But, somehow, completely… in fact, completely (forgiven),” he added.